Hydrotherapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy

 

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Description

'Hydrotherapy' also known as 'Aquatic Therapy' involves therapeutically immersing the body in water where the physical properties of altered density and gravity, hydorstatic pressure, buoyancy, viscosity and thermodynamics can be used to promote physiological change . The bouyancy and turbulence of water facilitates weight relief and ease of movement during rehabilitation to promote safe movement exploration, strengthening, and functional activity training . 

Indication

Hydrotherapy is indicated in children with cererbal palsy. The main aim of aquatic therapy is: 

• Provides resistance
• Encourages a wider range of movement and opposition
• Alleviates stress and tension
• Reduces pain and tension in muscles and joints
• Protects against injury
• Improves cardiovascular conditioning since the heart pumps more blood per beat when body is submerged in water
• Decreases post exercise discomfort

Clinical Presentation

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Key Evidence

Administered correctly, aquatic therapy can:

• Improve muscle tone
• Increase core strength
• Enhance circulation
• Improve cardiovascular functioning
• Improve flexibility
• Increase endurance
• Extend range of motion
• Reduce muscle spasticity
• Elevate metabolism
• Reduce sleep disturbances
• Relieve joint stress
• Improve muscle tone
• Increase stability
• Decrease pain and discomfort

Case Studies

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References

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